FAA · CAX
Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) Knowledge Test practice exams
The FAA's Commercial Pilot Airplane knowledge test — practice against the Commercial Pilot ACS, with every answer explained.
Or read 15 sample questions with answers.
About the CAX exam
The Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX) knowledge test covers what a commercial pilot needs before the checkride: commercial privileges and regulations, weather, cross-country planning, airspace, aerodynamics and performance maneuvers, complex and high-altitude systems, human factors, airport operations and emergencies.
The test follows the knowledge elements of the Commercial Pilot ACS (FAA-S-ACS-7B). The FAA does not publish per-area percentages, so our domain weights are an estimate.
The real exam
Public information published by FAA. A ExamWize practice exam matches this format — it is not a copy of the exam's contents.
- Format
- 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center. Minimum age to take the test is 16.
- Cost
- Testing fees are set by the testing center — check current pricing when you schedule.
- Scoring
- The passing score is 70 percent. Practice scores here use the same 70% pass line.
- Validity
- A passed knowledge test must be followed by the practical test within 24 calendar months (14 CFR 61.39).
Practice by exam topic
ExamWize practice exams draw questions in these same proportions, from a bank of 596 CAX questions. Open a topic for what it covers and free questions with answers.
- Pilot Qualifications, Airworthiness and Regulations· 101 questions17%
- Weather Information· 90 questions15%
- Cross-Country Planning and Navigation· 72 questions12%
- National Airspace System· 48 questions8%
- Performance, Aerodynamics and Maneuvers· 101 questions17%
- Operation of Systems and High-Altitude Operations· 77 questions13%
- Human Factors· 48 questions8%
- Airport Operations· 30 questions5%
- Emergency Operations· 29 questions5%
Who it's for
- Private pilots working toward a commercial certificate
- Flight instructors preparing commercial students
- Commercial pilots refreshing their knowledge
How to prepare
- Know commercial privileges and limits — including the day VFR, 50 NM limit without an instrument rating.
- Master aerodynamics: load factor, stall speed in turns, and how weight and CG affect performance.
- Learn constant-speed propeller, turbocharging, oxygen and pressurization rules.
- Review weather products, icing and thunderstorm hazards.
See the free CAX cheat sheet for a one-page domain summary, and the content policy for how these questions are written.
Free CAX practice resources
- 15 free CAX practice questionsSpread across the exam's topics, each with the answer and an explanation for every option.
- Free 10-question diagnosticA quick, scored check of where you stand, with no account needed.
- CAX cheat sheetThe topics and the facts that come up most, on one page.
- CAX study guideHow to plan your preparation.
CAX exam FAQ
- What is the format of the CAX exam?
- 100 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, at an FAA airman knowledge testing center. Minimum age to take the test is 16.
- How much does the CAX exam cost?
- Testing fees are set by the testing center — check current pricing when you schedule.
- How is the CAX exam scored?
- The passing score is 70 percent. Practice scores here use the same 70% pass line.
- How long is the credential valid?
- A passed knowledge test must be followed by the practical test within 24 calendar months (14 CFR 61.39).
- How many CAX practice questions does ExamWize have?
- 596 original practice questions, drawn into full practice exams in the same format and domain proportions as the real CAX. Every option has its own explanation.
- Are these real CAX exam questions?
- No. Every question is original, written from FAA's public content outline — never copied from the real exam or from exam dumps. They match the real exam's format, not its contents.
- Can I try ExamWize for free?
- Yes. The free diagnostic has 10 CAX practice questions with a full explanation for every answer, and no account is needed.